Tillerson's confirmation came the same day that North Korea claimed to have tested an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). Sources within the administration told CNN that an unexpected meeting among officials took place on Tuesday. They discussed the situation and potential options.

The missile could have long-range capabilities and reach the west coast of the United States. On Tuesday, Tillerson called North Korea's launch “a new escalation of the threat to the United States, our allies and partners, the region, and the world.”

President Donald Trump responded to the missile test with derision:

North Korea has just launched another missile. Does this guy have anything better to do with his life? Hard to believe that South Korea.....

The initial announcement by North Korea on Tuesday prompted U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley to call an emergency meeting among Security Council members.

As Independent Journal Review reported earlier on Tuesday, both South Korea and the United States made a joint show of force in response to the North Korean missile test. Both countries fired missiles into the South China Sea.